AAHomecare Advises Senate Finance Committee on Audit Reform

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Kim Brummett, the American Association for Homecare's vice president of regulatory affairs, provided the Senate Finance Committee with guidance on audit reform at an exclusive roundtable meeting on Capitol Hill.

The Committee invited Brummett to participate in the roundtable because of her extensive knowledge of the audit process and her expertise in working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Brummett was joined at the roundtable by Jeff Mastej, director of compliance and audit for Rochester, Mich.-based Wright & Filippis and chairman of AAHomecare's Regulatory Council.

"AAHomecare remains deeply concerned about the tremendous burden unfair, poorly managed audits have placed on home medical equipment providers," said Brummett. "Based on input from our provider members, we developed a list of specific recommendations for end-to-end improvements in the audit process. Today's roundtable was an excellent opportunity to explain those recommendations to the Committee as they prepare a legislative solution to the audit problem."

Among the Association's recommendations are:

• Stop new audits until the backlog is cleared up.
• Stop interest penalties until an audit is through all levels of appeals.
• Stop the recoupment/repayment process until an audit is through all levels of appeals.
• Issue guidance to Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) to allow for timely filing over-ride on continuous rental or supply claims.
• Issue guidance to DME MACs to require reopening after a redetermination on a technical denial.
• Evaluate the Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC) to determine if this step is effective or merely a stop-gap on the way to the Administrative Law Judge.
• Assign greater weight to clinical inference: let the medical record speak to the need of the patient and pay for services based on those facts.

The American Association for Homecare represents providers of home medical or durable medical equipment and services who serve the needs of millions of Americans who require prescribed oxygen therapy, wheelchairs, enteral feeding, and other medical equipment, services, and supplies at home. Visit  www.aahomecare.org.

SOURCE American Association for Homecare